https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-46137674
Who'dathunk that a shitty rapper would lie about his charity work for attention?
The University of Oxford has denied claims it rejected an offer by Stormzy to fund two black students through a scholarship scheme.
It told Radio 1 Newsbeat it "admires" his commitment but it had not "received or turned down any offer or proposal".
It comes after Stormzy claimed the university rejected his scholarship idea - which has since been taken up by the University of Cambridge.
Newsbeat has contacted the rapper's representatives for a comment.
At an event for his new publishing platform #Merky Books, Stormzy reportedly said he had approached Oxford with the idea.
Dan Hancox, who has written a book about the story of grime, was at the event in London on Wednesday.
Skip Twitter post by @danhancox
"); background-position: 16px 13px; border: 0px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 4px; font-weight: initial; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px; visibility: visible; display: block; position: static; transform: rotate(0deg); max-width: 100%; width: 500px; min-width: 220px;">
![]()
dan hancox
✔@danhancox
https://twitter.com/danhancox/status/1060314871894556677
Tonight at the Barbican Stormzy revealed that the much-discussed scholarship he's funding at Cambridge Uni was first proposed to Oxford University, and they told him to get lost?! Incredible.
11:35 PM - Nov 7, 2018
Twitter Ads info and privacy
Report
End of Twitter post by @danhancox
In a statement, the university said: "Oxford University is committed to widening access and participation for all students from under-represented backgrounds.
"We admire Stormzy's commitment to inspire and support black students to succeed in higher education.
"We have not received or turned down any offer or proposal to fund undergraduate scholarships at Oxford.
"We have contacted to Stormzy's representatives today to clarify we would welcome the opportunity to work together on inspiring students from African-Caribbean heritage to study at Oxford."
![]()
Image captionStormzy with his old teachers from Harris Academy in Crystal Palace
Stormzy announced the scholarship on A-level results day at his old school in south London.
"It's so important for black students, especially, to be aware that it can 100% be an option to attend a university of this calibre," he said.
The scholarship will pay for tuition fees and provide a maintenance grant for up to four years of an undergraduate course.
Cambridge and Oxford have both been criticised for not admitting many black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) students.
In 2017, 17.9 per cent of new students who went to Oxford University were from a BAME background.
Who'dathunk that a shitty rapper would lie about his charity work for attention?